Humor and silliness have always been a huge part of our family life, with quick wit and sly sarcasm in abundance. Talk around the dinner table is fast and if you blink you’ll miss it. Our kids are grown now and on their own, but still have a love of reading and clever quips. Even our grandson (5) is soooo funny (I fear too funny, mom and dad might get notes about the class clown). Anyway, back when the daughter was still at home we were hanging out one day just messing around when one of us coined a new word. It was a word that typically ends with -ty, but was jokingly said as the beverage, with -tea at the end. That was only the beginning. I grabbed a pen and paper and started writing as fast as we could think of them. All told, we ended up with about 30 tea words on a list. We were having so much fun you could say there was a lot of hilari-tea. (See what I did there?) You get the picture.
Fast forward about ten years, I came across the list buried somewhere in the chaos life creates. A torn out notebook page with a scribbled list, and a fond memory. Reading through the words I thought hey, these are pretty clever, there must be a way to use them.
That tiny thought became the seed of a project that has since grown into one of my favorite forms of practical artwork: custom tea labels filled with humor, personality, and a little bit of mischief.
The First Label: A Joke That Stuck
The very first tea label I ever made wasn’t meant to be anything special. It was a quick digital sketch—just a playful idea to make myself smile. I doodled a little character, added a sarcastic line about caffeine dependency, and slapped it onto a mockup of a mug. It was simple, imperfect, and absolutely delightful.
That was the moment I realized how much potential lived in these tiny designs. A tea label didn’t have to be serious. It didn’t have to be elegant. It could be funny, snarky, sweet, or downright ridiculous. It could turn an ordinary mug into a moment of joy.
And once I saw that, I couldn’t stop.
Why Tea Labels Became a Creative Obsession
Tea labels are small, but they’re mighty. They give me a place to experiment with illustration, typography, color, and humor all at once. They’re also incredibly forgiving. If an idea doesn’t work, I can scrap it and start again without feeling like I’ve wasted materials or time.
What I love most is how personal they can be. A label can reflect someone’s personality, their mood, their favorite drink, or their sense of humor. It can be a gift, a joke, a daily reminder, or a tiny piece of art that lives on a kitchen shelf.
Tea labels let me blend creativity with practicality—my favorite combination.
Inspiration: Humor, Warmth, and Everyday Life
My inspiration for these labels comes from everywhere. Sometimes it’s a phrase I overhear. Sometimes it’s a mood I’m in. Sometimes it’s a character that pops into my head fully formed, demanding to be drawn. And sometimes it’s just the simple desire to make someone laugh before they’ve had their first sip of the day.
I’m drawn to beverage humor because it’s universal. Everyone has a relationship with their morning drink—whether it’s tea, coffee, or something herbal and calming. There’s a shared understanding in that moment of holding a warm mug. It’s a tiny ritual that connects us.
My labels tap into that shared experience, adding a little twist of personality.
Materials and Tools: Building a Label From Scratch
Even though the labels are small, the process behind them is surprisingly layered. I work digitally, which gives me the freedom to experiment without limits. My tablet has become my sketchbook, my canvas, and my design studio all in one
Refining the Illustration
I always start with a loose sketch—just enough to capture the character or concept. This is where the personality shows up first.
Once the sketch feels right, I clean up the lines, adjust proportions, and start shaping the expression. Humor lives in the details: a raised eyebrow, a crooked smile, a dramatic eye roll.
The words matter just as much as the art. I experiment with phrasing until it feels natural—something you’d actually say (or think) while sipping your drink.
Everything has to fit just right on the label. I balance the illustration, text, and whitespace so the design feels intentional and readable.
A few highlights, a few shadows, and the label comes to life.
The Evolution of My Tea Label Style
When I look back at my earliest labels, I can see how much my style has grown. The characters have become more expressive. The humor has become sharper. The layouts have become cleaner. And the overall aesthetic has become more cohesive.
But the heart of the project hasn’t changed. It’s still about play. It’s still about joy. It’s still about turning everyday objects into tiny moments of delight.
Why Tea Labels Matter to Me
Tea labels might seem like a small thing, but they’ve become an important part of my creative practice. They give me a space to experiment without pressure. They let me explore humor and personality in a way that feels light and fun. And they connect me to people in a surprisingly intimate way—through the simple act of sharing a warm drink.
They also remind me that creativity doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the best ideas come from the simplest moments: waiting for water to boil, staring at a plain mug, or doodling just to pass the time.
Final Thoughts
Tea labels began as a playful experiment, but they’ve grown into a beloved part of my artistic world. They’re small, but they carry so much personality. They let me blend illustration, humor, and everyday life into something practical and joyful.
Every time I create a new label—whether it’s for myself, for someone else, or just for fun—I’m reminded of why I love making things. Art doesn’t always need to be serious. Sometimes it can be silly, snarky, cozy, or downright ridiculous. Sometimes it can live on a mug and still feel meaningful.
And honestly, that’s the magic of it.
